If you want to protect your company’s brand and identity, trademark registration is essential. Many business owners (especially small businesses) put off filing an application because they think the trademark registration process is too complex, or even unnecessary. It might be an involved process, but it can be broken down into four easy steps and … Read more
We have one-time IBM patent lawyer Peter Detkin to thank for the phrase “patent troll.” In Detkin’s time, the phrase almost always referred to the practice of buying low-value patents for the purpose of threatening nuisance litigation. The easiest way to define the phrase for today’s world is to say that it refers to any … Read more
When you apply for a trademark, you want your mark to be as strong as possible. Having a strong and unique mark can make it likelier that your trademark application will be approved. The strongest marks are words or phrases that are unique and that have been created or coined by the businesses that use … Read more
Clients often ask if it’s possible to file a trademark application if they have not yet started doing business under the proposed trademark name. The answer is YES. You can file what’s called an “intent-to-use” trademark application to begin securing your trademark rights even before you start doing business. What is an Intent-to-use Trademark Application? … Read more
After they have gone through the trademark process and possess a registered trademark, the most common question clients ask is, “How long does a trademark last?” The simple answer: Your trademark will initially last for six years, but you can maintain the registration forever with a bit of maintenance. (Source: USPTO) The United States Patent … Read more
The National Football League has several outstanding teams in the AFC West division, including the Kansas City Chiefs. The team was founded in 1960 under the name ‘‘Dallas Texans’’ by entrepreneur Lamar Hunt and was a charter member of the American Football League (AFL). In the spring of 1963, the team relocated to Kansas City … Read more
Don’t let that trademark certificate fool you. It might declare that you own trademark rights to a logo or name, but you can lose those rights just as easily as you acquired them. A trademark registration certificate from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is really just a single step in the journey … Read more
Once your trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it is vitally important to take action against any potentially infringing uses of your trademarks. Early detection of potential trademark infringement is critical because the failure to properly defend your trademark rights could lead to a loss of distinctiveness, which is … Read more
Most people have heard of both trademarks and patents, but most people don’t often know the difference between the two. Trademarks and patents share some similar features, such as both being considered intellectual property. With both of them, the exclusive rights of ownership and use are tied to whoever registers them first. But beyond this, … Read more
If you aren’t careful about your trademark, it can cost you, both literally in the wallet, and mentally in stress and time. There are several things you need to know about when it comes to protecting your company’s valuable name and/or logo. If you’re thinking about going through the trademark registration process in the near … Read more
The trademark registration process is not necessarily a difficult one. It can, however, prove exhausting. From the time you file an application it takes about 10 months to receive approval–if everything goes smoothly. If you make a single mistake on your application, the registration process could take longer than a year. Since the United States … Read more
Sleep.com is an online wellness resource and community that operates as an arm of Mattress Firm, a subsidiary of furniture giant Steinhoff international holdings, and a USA-based mattress chain store. Sleep.com Domain The domain sleep.com was registered in 1995 and will expire in 2032 unless renewed before then. The Sleep.com trademark was registered in 2020. … Read more
Each trademark you file incurs a separate application fee. For example, if you wish to trademark your business name, your logo, and a product name, you will pay the application fee three times. Additionally, you might be subject to greater legal fees if you’ve chosen to work with an attorney on top of the filing fee with … Read more
Styrofoam is a popular material that’s used for home insulation and craft supplies. Despite popular belief, however, it is not the material used to make disposable cups, coolers, packing peanuts and carry-out containers. Styrofoam is a registered trademark for a particular type of closed-cell, extruded polystyrene foam. Those other products may look like Styrofoam, but … Read more
Are you stuck on Band-Aid brand? The catchy jingle was a TV and radio favorite for decades. Band-Aid may not be the top seller in the adhesive bandage market – private label brands have the top spot – but it is undoubtedly the most famous. Newlywed Invention How did Band-Aid get started? It began in … Read more
Table tennis has been around for a long time. British soldiers and aristocrats played it, and it is now an official game in the Olympics. If you call it Ping-Pong, however, you should know you’re using a registered trademark. First Came Tennis Before there was table tennis, there was court tennis. There’s evidence that people … Read more